New Merit System Proposed for Post-Graduate Medical Admissions
New Delhi: An expert committee has proposed a new rank-based merit system for admission to post-graduate medical courses, ending the current admission process that follows a percentile-based qualifying system. This proposal has been submitted to the Supreme Court.
NMC Approval and Draft Regulation
According to the report given to the Supreme Court, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has granted an in-principle approval to the proposal for both the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Postgraduate) (NEET-PG) and the National-cum-Entrance Test for Super Specialty (NEET-SS). A draft regulation is expected to be issued shortly for stakeholder consultation.
Addressing Vacancies and Reducing Fees
The committee has also suggested measures to address the recurring problem of vacant post-graduate medical seats. These include reducing fees for non-clinical courses and exempting candidates taking pre-clinical and para-clinical seats from service bonds.
Counselling Process Improvements
The committee has discouraged conducting additional counselling rounds, citing increased duration. It has also identified seat blocking as a major cause of vacancies and suggests examination-conducting bodies explore biometric verification. The revised counselling system utilizes ‘Freeze’ and ‘Float’ categories, with online seat upgrades and document verification.
Streamlining the Process
The integrated counselling portal, combining NMC and MCC data, eliminates seat duplication. Candidates can opt for the ‘Float’ option to apply for upgrades without physical visits. Document verification is now conducted online, and fees are paid only once at the final institution.
Supreme Court Concerns
The Supreme Court has questioned the drastic revision of qualifying cut-off marks, reducing them from 276 to 103 for the general category and from 235 to minus 40 for the SC/ST/OBC categories. The Centre acknowledged the importance of maintaining standards in postgraduate medical education.
Source: ThePrint. Featured image credit: ThePrint.
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